[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6471460,"mediaKeyId","5777953-4a257a3cf917cb2d0f0729f498e0c827","parentId",5777953,"title","Board approves business‑development agreement with Genentech for Holly Springs facility","audioSeconds",972,"startMs",6680000,"endMs",7652000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777953-4a257a3cf917cb2d0f0729f498e0c827&start=6680&end=7652","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777953-4a257a3cf917cb2d0f0729f498e0c827/thumbnail_6680000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6471460/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Board-approves-businessdevelopment-agreement-with-Genentech-for-Holly-Springs-facility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471460-35d4fca764d21c4a2679dc735ab2a387/orig.mp4?Expires=1775196481&Signature=BgiwdeGC-vU5sDO3t4FgUMKYqmp63FtAauJ9WivEWU-GU7SL6F5cUO3Uesg0XW5EAWJq9p5pUwzMic0fgwKubHztC9mijHj1ur-tISwQVPv8NFGapeOQGl5WkSzP7UsCS20iZTToTqVojtNVM117TQSOvs1cQWLFfjIkNqVtt9RpQwYil9Fp1V7RSnHNtR2oEC9zd5WEpMUynECAdG1JejQgAt8ghwagls8HAiaauws~Z-IXyfOd7f~l1xzU5XOqGWSiCzbTLsumxMzfo0WgYM2FbYqBttVxjNYK3akI0WHy4ksF4MzX1pg6uWzZ8i87tK4uWSDnF~XlV5ysJysa6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wake County","date","2025-09-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 15 to approve, in principle, a business‑development grant agreement with Genentech for a planned drug‑manufacturing facility in Holly Springs.

County staff said the Genentech project (Project Apollo 11) will construct a roughly 700,000‑square‑foot fill‑finished drug manufacturing facility on a Holly Springs site near Friendship Road adjacent to an existing Amgen campus. The company plans to invest approximately $700 million and to create about 420 jobs with average wages above $100,000, according to the presentation by county staff.

County staff summarized the draft agreement before the board: to qualify, Genentech must increase assessed tax valuation by at least $350 million (county presentation referenced a target date through early 2030), create at least 378 new jobs by a stated deadline and meet an average wage threshold (the county presentation said approximately $107,008.50). The proposed incentive structure is a 10‑year agreement with an 80% grant‑back of new tax revenue in years 1–5 if performance conditions are met, and 20% grant‑back in years 6–10. Genentech has also agreed to pursue the county’s “upward mobility” bonus, which requires non‑discrimination, offering affordable health insurance and leave policies, and at least two employee supports (examples include childcare subsidies, transportation or education assistance and second‑chance hiring practices).

The project also involves coordinating incentives among multiple jurisdictions: the town of Holly Springs has approved a town investment agreement and the state is pursuing a Job Development Investment Grant. Michael James, staff with the county manager’s office, presented the item and noted the town and state participation.

After a public hearing with no public speakers on the item, the board voted to approve the agreement subject to final terms acceptable to the county attorney. Commissioner Jackson moved approval and Commissioner Stallings seconded; the motion carried by voice vote. The presentation included no specific dollar‑value cash grant from the county; the incentive is structured as a share of new tax revenue returned to the company under the agreement’s terms.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wake County - Regular","oneSentenceSummary","The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 15 to approve a business‑development grant agreement framework for Genentech’s planned Holly Springs drug‑manufacturing facility.","taxTitle","Wake County, North Carolina","taxId",3336,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471465,"Board approves FY27 Go Wake Access Community Transportation grant application",1090,5587000,6677000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777953-4a257a3cf917cb2d0f0729f498e0c827&start=5587&end=6677","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777953-4a257a3cf917cb2d0f0729f498e0c827/thumbnail_5587000.jpg","/articles/6471465/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Board-approves-FY27-Go-Wake-Access-Community-Transportation-grant-application","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471465-713ce3380cd4d619fef7bf9c05039119/orig.mp4?Expires=1775196481&Signature=mNF~zL78CEjW0Gh0XoCcDU431GCbY0iLBLQrMOwcU4M0LA4zC0JE-BvBFNXngLipFrzaVV5Kn9g3ZzV6jO9jSMCjC5eq3p45rearBb9C6-OLBnGPY3B4PK05xP-l1kKUfwGmtD8k6Yyew9oHzh~EW5yzoxdv~B2E6RIsgA8glBoNMdt7B6rL8G8i~SuIlWHcpUkQq-Afu144jfSGxVwsQiI3PyxY4KqxnwY7USNqVoCNIQPBOuLsL8F-YS6xEJ0WUlrUV3Mue9ClY9eBsFitkfH5nlFVUs6rHtXIy0F83SQRgCiCne4mwT-yF~xNSgC3Ytp2TXAxUoOWrufkdiyRVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wake County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 15 approved submission of the FY 2027 Community Transportation Program (CTP) grant application to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Public Transportation Division, to support Go Wake Access operations and vehicle replacement.

Anita Davis, Medicaid Transportation Manager for Go Wake Access, told commissioners the department requested just over $300,000 for administrative expenses and roughly $2,000,000 for capital replacement in FY27, including funds to replace 18 wheelchair‑accessible vans. Go Wake Access reported providing roughly 139,000 trips in fiscal 2025 across Medicaid‑mandated and non‑mandated programs, operating a fleet of 72 wheelchair‑accessible vans (four of those on the SmartRide NE program). The department provided ridership trends showing a 32% decrease in Medicaid trips and a 41% decrease in non‑Medicaid trips from FY24 to FY25, while SmartRide ridership rose about 23%.

Davis explained the decrease in Medicaid trips reflected Medicaid program changes tied to Medicaid transformation and tailored plans; some customers moved to non‑county transport options administered by managed‑care plans. She said non‑mandated trips (employment, rural general public and other services) were scaled back in FY25 to absorb increased operational costs.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about SmartRide demand in the northeast (Zebulon, Wendell, Knightdale), bus and high‑school connections, dispatch and accessibility concerns for riders with disabilities, complaint handling and training for contractors, and the feasibility of more energy‑efficient vehicles. Davis said SmartRide demand remains high in Zebulon, and the department is completing a vehicle‑fleet feasibility study on vehicle and infrastructure options including hybrids or battery‑electric vehicles.

After a public hearing with no speakers, the board voted to approve the application and related certifications and assurances. Commissioner Thomas moved the resolution and Commissioner Jackson seconded. The motion recorded approval for submission in the amount of $2,375,522 to NCDOT; the board approved the application.","The Wake County Board of Commissioners approved submission of the FY 2027 Community Transportation Program application to NCDOT to support Go Wake Access operations and vehicle replacement, including a capital request tied to 18 wheelchair lift vans.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471470,"Wake County receives final \"Cultivating Creativity\" arts and culture master plan",1154,1688000,2842000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777953-4a257a3cf917cb2d0f0729f498e0c827&start=1688&end=2842","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777953-4a257a3cf917cb2d0f0729f498e0c827/thumbnail_1688000.jpg","/articles/6471470/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Wake-County-receives-final-Cultivating-Creativity-arts-and-culture-master-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471470-ca10c9ec02bb9a0a834199e0e1b1d2cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775196481&Signature=KqabbXhPbDXhUzJaBUt069whxplX~Pvf3pWkb7l8fvLFL~0EqDAABfp2N3u6SezNB7frGEZpczkxzDPzPMfQ2I~wQU0HCY~1TUKxXpWNvEvXuGJ2DZeLCkTgYha2Gv8EK7GRkhRG3FHaujXT7lfNar2wVYY2pOXV4UCLgXPYERuPIwB2jabpXYyEUY26S0DrZWKAKMJaUCUPRM6tZjmdIsUDexIKOQ3dDM9aATKrlNYv8CLOxk5xMEykL0CkiT8iO5yGBICT1gTdXWFYrrAhSPvZxKF61cvnXNVsi5j3xf7EtsOv5Hsu0X81p1ihmiUQNiCxfd4K77S9QIfqhxLCBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wake County commissioners heard a presentation Sept. 15 on \"Cultivating Creativity,\" the countywide arts and culture master plan developed by United Arts for Wake County and Cultural Planning Group.

The plan calls for three strategic goals — enhancing municipal infrastructure and capacity, supporting a sustainable creative economy, and building access and awareness — and proposes programs such as a Municipal Arts and Culture Collaboration Program, a Cultural Technical Assistance Program, a Wake Murals expansion, cultural districts, artist residencies embedded in county departments, and targeted multilingual marketing. Martin Cohen, partner with Cultural Planning Group, presented the final framework and said the plan was shaped by 18 months of outreach and an 18-member advisory task force.

The plan responds to Wake County’s rapid growth and aims to spread arts opportunities beyond Raleigh and Cary to all 12 municipalities. It highlights the creative sector as an economic engine: the consultants reported roughly 51,000 creative-sector jobs, $1.5 billion in industry earnings and about $105 million in nonprofit cultural spending based on 2023 data. The plan notes municipal cultural spending currently totals more than $38 million annually across the 12 municipalities and that United Arts historically raises about $3 in private support for every $1 invested by the county.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about definitions, municipal participation and facility inventories. Martin Cohen said the “creative economy” includes nonprofit arts organizations and for‑profit creative industries such as graphic design, architecture, film and related support services. He said municipalities — especially smaller, faster‑growing ones such as Holly Springs and Fuquay Varina — told planners they want more in‑community programming, technical assistance and help with facilities and affordability.

Commissioners praised the outreach and said the plan fit Wake County’s economic development and quality‑of‑life goals. Questions included how the plan aligns with peer counties, the role of arts in education and health programs, and how the county might fund plan implementation. Cohen and Michael James, staff with the county manager’s office, said implementation will be a mix of county actions (including potential increased general fund allocations managed through United Arts), United Arts‑led programs, and private‑sector partnerships; the plan suggests establishing cultural matching funds to leverage private contributions.

The presentation did not request formal action by the board at the meeting. Commissioners said they would review the final document and consider next steps, including budget choices that may be required to implement the plan’s funding framework.

Cultivating Creativity’s authors said the plan builds on existing programs — Wake Murals and Diwali festival examples were cited — and is intended to strengthen arts’ connections to workforce development, tourism and other county strategic priorities. Commissioners asked staff to share the plan document publicly; United Arts confirmed the plan will be posted on its website and copies were provided to the board.","United Arts and Cultural Planning Group presented \"Cultivating Creativity,\" a countywide arts and culture master plan that recommends municipal capacity building, support for the creative economy, and expanded access across all 12 Wake County municipalities. Commissioners discussed priorities and asked about funding and implementation steps.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471455,"Board adopts Crowder County Park master plan expansion; phase‑one scope set within existing funds",1493,7437000,8930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777953-4a257a3cf917cb2d0f0729f498e0c827&start=7437&end=8930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777953-4a257a3cf917cb2d0f0729f498e0c827/thumbnail_7437000.jpg","/articles/6471455/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Board-adopts-Crowder-County-Park-master-plan-expansion-phaseone-scope-set-within-existing-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471455-18df50787405a9059636c3845940309c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775196481&Signature=i6924PgId8VeC2h47HpKSJEEh9xOve4us3WMuvbXSbKAmlgJvqCaa2rfm0gV~TvXNc6NhuFtPBiIyzwZM95ob4YmqsdEATAFgBf5CDcjwGE~eVZ9mE0395LyD6YCJljKE4goxa18EnWzD5b8kQQ0FvYcUMTsxX-Oaq9ioZ8Sm7lKfUwldZ5aG6si94onqzH88NUpzgs7jiQeHiZXAtvsq7~vdoENXC8z461Z2KGjiYcZRbPclc6c~fLeCPM7DPsbnRMoZq3KUvzpEI1ehQ2eTQYJUeB8frMcznXqAHDI3zA6zqJBoqoxMY1tHeSyEt6lN5w7TsIoRhKLkQcyBpTeSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wake County commissioners on Sept. 15 adopted a master plan to expand and develop Crowder County Park and directed staff to proceed to schematic design and programming for implementation phases.

County staff and CLH Design presented the master plan developed after multi‑stage public engagement and natural‑resource analysis. Crowder Park opened in 1998 on a 33‑acre parcel donated by Doris Spears; Wake County acquired an additional 96 acres in July 2019, giving the park 129 acres in total, though only 33 acres had been open to the public prior to this plan.

The recommended master plan preserves significant open space and existing large oaks while adding an expanded trail network, a park center (classroom and flexible indoor space), a nature play area, a pollinator garden, a northern pond loop and improved pedestrian access, including a proposed signalized crossing at 1010 Road. The plan included three concept alternatives (Knoll, Pond and Prairie); community input favored the Knoll concept and emphasized preservation, connectivity and a mix of natural and paved trails. The master plan anticipates roughly 2 miles of paved greenway connections and about 3.5 miles of natural‑surface trails with loop options.

Project cost: the design team provided an estimated total construction cost of about $16 million to implement the full plan. County staff said currently available funds total about $6.5 million, and staff recommended a phased approach. Phase‑one priorities — aligned with public input and Parks, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee feedback — include a park classroom/indoor event space (to provide year‑round restrooms and shelter), a signalized pedestrian crossing on 1010 Road, the paved greenway connector to existing networks, construction of natural‑surface trails and 18 additional parking spaces. The full plan allows for a future parking expansion and three bus spaces for field trips and large events; the full build‑out schematic reserves space for those future facilities.

Commissioners from southern Wake praised the plan’s emphasis on conservation and community access. They asked about school use, bus parking and whether the phase‑one design would accommodate school field trips; staff said eventual bus spaces are included in later phases but that schools regularly use the park now and staff will coordinate parking as needed. Commissioners also asked about maintenance staffing and minimal upgrades to existing facilities to support increased use.

The board voted to adopt the master plan and directed staff to proceed with schematic design; the item carried by voice vote. After schematic design approval, staff will return with refined construction documents, a detailed cost estimate and a procurement schedule.","Wake County adopted a master plan to expand Crowder County Park from 33 to 129 acres of owned land and approved a phased approach. The full plan estimates construction at about $16 million; available funding supports a $6.5 million phase‑one package that includes a park classroom, trails, pedestrian crossing and limited parking.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves business‑development agreement with Genentech for Holly Springs facility

Board approves FY27 Go Wake Access Community Transportation grant application

Wake County receives final "Cultivating Creativity" arts and culture master plan

Board adopts Crowder County Park master plan expansion; phase‑one scope set within existing funds